Throughout the year we run opportunities for young people and our wider community in the Midlands to get involved through bespoke projects. Check out the below to see our current projects and how we engage with writers.
Engaging with Writers
We’re excited to hear from artists who are interested in the company’s work. We try and see the work of up-and-coming writers wherever we can. To invite us to see your work, either in person or in digital form, or to let us know more about the work that you are interested to make, please email us at info@fifthword.co.uk.
We have currently paused our open script submission portal, to allow us to catch up with the ongoing post-Covid backlog, and while we re-evaluate how this opportunity can serve writers and align with Fifth Word’s long-term strategy in the most meaningful way. The script submission portal will reopen later in 2023. Keep an eye on the News page for more updates on the portal, and other new development opportunities for writers, coming soon.
If you’d like to be notified of all future artist opportunities, sign up to our mailing list here
Playwrights’ Resources and Keeping Creative
Here are a few of the resources and opportunities available for emerging writers – this list is by no means exhaustive but might be a useful starting point:
Free writing exercises from the Royal Court
Masterclasses from the Bush Theatre
Blogs, toolkits and webinars from the Bruntwood Prize website
Artist development opportunities –
https://nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/for-artists/amplify/
https://newdiorama.com/artist-support
cptheatre.co.uk/Artist-Support
https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/take-part/talent-development/foundry/
https://ingoodco.org.uk/opportunities/
https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/new-works
https://bristololdvic.org.uk/for-artists
Financial Support, Wellbeing, Unions
Peggy Ramsay Foundation:
Grants are available for theatre writers in order to afford them the time and the space to write. You can be a writer who’s only had one play professionally produced, a writer who’s had dozens or a writer who’s somewhere in between – if you’re struggling to pay the bills, then they can help.
peggyramsayfoundation.org
Acting for Others:
Acting for Others provides financial and emotional support to all theatre workers in times of need, through their network of 14 member charities.
Actors’ Benevolent Fund:
For professional actors and stage managers who are in need due to illness, injury, or old age. actorsbenevolentfund.co.uk
Arts Council England:
Funding for arts projects of all scales, that benefit people in England. You can apply as an individual for a Project grant for a particular project, or for a Developing Your Creative Practice grant for general support to develop as an artist.
artscouncil.org.uk
ACE list of other funding sources:
artscouncil.org.uk/funding/other-sources-funding#section-1
BECTU:
Trade union representing over 40,000 staff, contract and freelance workers in the media and entertainment industries.
bectu.org.uk
Writers’ Guild of Great Britain:
The main UK trade union representing professional writers in TV, film, theatre, radio, books, poetry etc.
writersguild.org.uk
Wellbeing in the Arts:
Mental health support services for artists.
Freelancers Make Theatre Work:
Volunteer-run advocacy and support organisation for the 200,000+ self-employed and freelance workers who make up 70% of the UK theatre workforce.